Seminar Midterm Review

American literature is incredibly valuable and unrecognized because it sheds light on the truth of human existence through the “tale”. America is currently defined by negative freedom (Europe still masters), and only by a shift to acting by our own deepest desires will it realize its potential as a democracy and assume a true spirit tied to place.

The Spirit of Place - D. H. Lawrence

Young country boy Robin goes to the city in search of financial support from his relative Major Molineux - learns that tyranny of mob has undermined this authority and eventually joins in with this group after encountering hostility of various townspeople.

My Kinsman, Major Molineux - Nathaniel Hawthorne

One should follow their own deepest intuitions and encourage others to do so. Even though this existence is discouraged by society, it assumes greater power in its timelessness and connection to an eternal divine truth.

Self-Reliance - Ralph Waldo Emerson

America united in the diversity of it’s workers all singing together in different tasks.

I Hear America Singing - Walt Whitman

My poems define America and democracy

To Foreign Lands - Walt Whitman

Great progress for world can come at sacrifice of one great figure.

O Captain! My Captain! - Walt Whitman

Great people all walk together in unity and purity of action, this gives each other strength against retributions.

To Him That Was Crucified - Walt Whitman

Poem celebrating American diversity of land and people - becomes great unifier in our greatness.

Starting from Paumanok - Walt Whitman

Describes the journey of joyful American sailor who stumbles upon slave ship that is secretly under control of the slaves.

Benito Cereno - Herman Melville

The institution of slavery produces conflict within enslaved communities, which lose a sense of hope and relation in their constant commodification and internalization of racial barriers, as well as conflict within white slaveowners, who are damned by both complacency and enabling of aristocratic personalities.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin - Harriet Stowe

Protest novels perpetuate harmful societal institutions. Their oversimplification prevents realization of the truth, and their call for justice encourages complacency in perceived virtue while failing to question the formation of such systems as a whole. This perpetuates the existence of institutional issues within society.

Everybody’s Protest Novel (from Notes of a Native Son) - James Baldwin